Watch 25 of the latest Japanese masterpieces for free

The 2023 film “We’re Broke, My Lord!” » directed by Tetsu Maeda is a samurai comedy set in Japan’s Edo period in the 1840s and provides insight into the traditional culture of Japan. [JFF 제공]

The 2024 Online Japanese Film Festival (JFF) will take place in 2024.

The Japan Foundation will organize the 2024 Online Japanese Film Festival from June 5 to July 3. During this film festival, you will have the opportunity to watch 23 films and 2 TV series for free. The film is available with subtitles in a total of 15 languages, including English subtitles. To view, register as a member on the film festival website (jff.jpf.go.jp/watch/jffonline2024/) and select the film you want. It can be viewed in the United States, Mexico, Peru, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Laos, Thailand, Taiwan and China. Korea and Japan are excluded from viewing countries.

Submitted films include “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,” “Single 8,” and “Confrontation!” ANIME SUPREMACY!’, ‘The lines that define me’, ‘JUNGLE EMPEROR LEO (aka KIMBA THE WHITE LION)’, ‘FATHER OF THE MILKY WAY RAILWAY’, ‘The beautiful suit’, ‘School lunches, graduation diplomas’, ‘BL Metamorphosis’, ‘My Broken Mariko’, ‘The Zen Diary’, ‘WEDDING HIGH’, ‘Ordinary Kasumi (I am what I am)’, ‘KIBA: THE CROCS OF FICTION’, ‘The Lone Ume Tree’, ‘I Come GaGa: Welcome Home, Mom’, ‘WE ARE BROKEN, MY LORD!)’. Four works were also submitted to the Japanese horror film competition. The names of the works are “BEST WISHES TO ALL”, “cupboard”, “KARAKASA” and “invitation”. TV series include “Downtown Rocket” and “RIKUOH”.

From recent box office hits to box office hits of the 1960s, various films from 2008 (1), 2021 (3), 2022 (9) and 2023 (3) will be screened for movie fans around the world.

A masterpiece of Japanese animation and a nostalgic film – cinematic version Leo, Prince of the Jungle (1966). This film, which depicts the growth and adventures of the white lion Lion, can be viewed for free at the 2024 Online Japanese Film Festival. [JFF 제공]

Works to watch closely each year include “Leo, Prince of the Jungle (1996)”, “Handsome Suit (2008)”, “I Loved Like a Bouquet (2021)”, “Twelve Moons, Eating Dirt (2022)”, (We’re broke, my way! (2023).

For those who remember the masterpiece of Japanese cinema, director Eiichi Yamamoto’s nostalgic animated film “Leo, Prince of the Jungle Theatrical Version (1996)” has been submitted. This film depicts the growth and adventures of Leo, a white lion, set in the African jungle. This film is considered a masterpiece that will go down in the history of Japanese animation for its dynamic action, brilliant colors, humorous elements, poetic expressions and music. In particular, director Eiichi Yamamoto’s detailed direction and narration leave a deep impression on children and adults. This work touches the hearts of all generations and is still loved by many fans.

The film “Handsome Suit” by director Tsutomu Hanabusa, released in 2008, is a comedy film that depicts the story of the protagonist Takuro, who is kind and sincere but has difficulty dating because of his appearance, with warm humor and emotion. This film shows that a true heart and inner beauty, rather than flashy appearance, leads to true love. “Handsome Suit” goes beyond a simple comedy film and delivers a warm message about social prejudice against the appearance and meaning of true love.

“Love Like a Bouquet” was produced in 2021 and directed by Hiro Doinobu. This film tells the love story of “Mugi” and “Kinu”, 21-year-old students, who met by fate. However, as they graduate from college, their relationship becomes more and more distant and they grow apart, supporting each other’s dreams and futures. The film shows that the beauty of two people’s love does not disappear just because it has ended, but that they grow while maintaining their sincere love for each other, even in reality. “Love Like a Bouquet” ranked first at the Japanese box office for six consecutive weeks. Director Hiro Doinobu is famous for films such as “I’ll Meet You Now” and “Bad Girl, I Support You.”

“Twelve Moons, Eating Soil,” directed by Yuji Nakae in 2022, is based on traditional Japanese cuisine and explores various aspects of Japanese culture, including communication with nature and the meaning of life. [JFF 제공]

“Twelve Months, Eating Earth” is a 2022 film directed by Yuji Nakae and is a heartwarming and calm work. The writer Tsutomuga, whose wife was emaciated, depicted living alone in a house in the mountains and eating food made from natural ingredients. Depending on the season, you can enjoy a variety of dishes prepared by Tsutomu and admire beautiful natural scenery. In particular, the carefully prepared traditional Japanese cuisine is visually beautiful, and the delicious meal scenes whet viewers’ appetite while providing warm comfort. More than just a food film, it contains stories about communication with nature, the meaning of life and longing for loved ones.

“We Broke, My Lord!” is a 2023 samurai comedy film directed by Tetsu Maeda that tells the story of a young prince racing to rebuild the country’s finances. It’s a film full of exciting stories, spectacular action and delightful humor set in the late Edo period of Japan in the 1840s.

This film festival aims to share Japanese films with the world. You can experience various aspects of Japanese culture and the latest trends in Japanese cinema through films of various genres, including documentaries, fiction, dramas, animation and films based on novels.

Journalist Jeong Ha-eun [email protected]